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EUR/USD: Continued rally unlikely; options indicate

  • EUR/USD's put options draw stronger demand than calls. 
  • Investors position for a pullback as Germany announces hard lockdown. 

EUR/USD's options market has flipped bearish, suggesting low odds of a continued rally in the short-term. 

The one-month risk reversal, which measures the spread between the premium for calls and puts, has dropped to -0.175 – the lowest level since Nov. 2 – having peaked at 0.35 on Dec. 3, according to data source Reuters. 

In other words, the EUR puts or bearish bets are now drawing higher demand (premium) than the calls. Investors seem to be taking hedges against potential decline ahead of the year's end. 

EUR/USD is currently trading largely unchanged on the day at 1.2133. The currency pair looks to be consolidating in a 1.2060-1.2175 range after breaking out of its $1.16-$1.20 four-month trading band, as noted by Marc Chandler, Chief Market Strategist at Bannockburn Global Forex, in his latest blog post. 

Macro factors such as coronavirus vaccine optimism, expectations for a global economic recovery in 2021, the fading influence of trade protectionism, economic nationalism, and the European Union's recent agreement on the 2021 budget favor further gains in the EUR. The dollar side of the story looks weak as well, as noted by Morgan Stanley. 

However, Germany's decision to impose a hard lockdown during the Christmas holidays and potential weak PMIs could play spoilsport in the short-term. The Eurozone, German PMI numbers are scheduled for release this week. 

Technical levels

EUR/USD

Overview
Today last price1.2133
Today Daily Change0.0016
Today Daily Change %0.13
Today daily open1.2117
 
Trends
Daily SMA201.1988
Daily SMA501.1859
Daily SMA1001.183
Daily SMA2001.1457
 
Levels
Previous Daily High1.2163
Previous Daily Low1.2105
Previous Weekly High1.2166
Previous Weekly Low1.2059
Previous Monthly High1.2003
Previous Monthly Low1.1603
Daily Fibonacci 38.2%1.2127
Daily Fibonacci 61.8%1.2141
Daily Pivot Point S11.2094
Daily Pivot Point S21.2071
Daily Pivot Point S31.2036
Daily Pivot Point R11.2152
Daily Pivot Point R21.2186
Daily Pivot Point R31.221

Author

Omkar Godbole

Omkar Godbole

FXStreet Contributor

Omkar Godbole, editor and analyst, joined FXStreet after four years as a research analyst at several Indian brokerage companies.

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